Must-have apps for tourists in Abu Dhabi
With its state-of-the-art architecture and heritage sites, the capital of the UAE attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world all throughout the year. Abu Dhabi has so much to offer its visitors, from memorable outdoor adventures to breathtaking events regularly taking place throughout the emirate. Headed to the UAE’s capital? To make your stay as convenient as possible, we have assembled a list of the best tourist apps in Abu Dhabi.
Places to visit, Events and Food
Visit Abu Dhabi
Visit Abu Dhabi is the app for you if you want to explore the best the capital has to offer. This free app is a comfortable and easy way to navigate the emirate. You can stay updated with latest news, beautiful tourist attractions, culture and history destinations, hotels, restaurants and other locations of interest in Abu Dhabi. There are 10 languages available in the app.
If you are keen on exploring the capital, check out this list of top tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi.
Yas Mall App
Yas Mall, located in the heart of Yas Island, has 2.5 million square feet packed full of shops and entertainment activities. This bustling mall is fun for all the family and this app will help you enjoy the best of what it has to offer.
The Yas Mall app gives you access to information about all the mall’s shops, entertainment, events and other relevant information.
Abu Dhabi Calendar
This mobile app is Abu Dhabi’s official calendar and a one-stop shop for finding out what’s going on in the emirate. International motorsports events, sports championships, concerts, culinary festivals, cultural festivals, watersports, high-profile corporate conferences and bustling nightlife – they’re all part of Abu Dhabi’s action-packed calendar that you’ll be able to access through this app.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi is definitely one of the must-visit attractions in the capital. With this app you can get information on all the exhibits in the museum. The Louvre Abu Dhabi App also allows you to create your own collection and share your favourite artworks with your friends, as well as following a curator’s tour of special exhibitions.
Use the interactive map in the museum to navigate the galleries using geo-tracking. In the galleries themselves, press the “Around Me” button to find content connected to the artworks immediately surrounding you. This app is available in seven languages.
If you are interested in learning more about this world-class museum, check out our guide to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Zomato
If you’re a foodie who loves to travel, this is a must-have app. Zomato uses a map to help you locate restaurants, cafes and bars. You can look for restaurants by location or the type of cuisine you are craving. After your meal, you can also leave reviews on restaurants, making it easy for other users to choose the best place to eat. In Abu Dhabi, you can even have the food delivered to you.
Talabat
Available in a number of Middle Eastern countries, this app allows you to search for and discover restaurants where you may dine out or get takeout. Simply enter your location to find restaurants that serve Indian, Chinese, American, Italian, or other cuisines in your neighbourhood. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support local restaurants while also discovering new places at which to dine.
You can structure the app so that you receive notifications about the newest restaurant deals, promotions and discounts in your area. You can also go back to previous orders and request specific changes to meals being delivered.
Transport
Wondering how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi? Check out these useful apps.
Abu Dhabi Taxi
The Abu Dhabi Taxi Booking App allows you to book a taxi anywhere around Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Taxi is a simple app that works at your convenience, finding you a taxi swiftly after booking.
Careem and Uber
Careem and Uber are ride-hailing apps and are some of the most useful for tourists in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi’s public transportation is efficient, but depending on your demands, the time you need to get somewhere, or even the weather, you may require more options. These apps can help you navigate the city without any problem.
Darb
The Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport has launched this app, which is particularly beneficial for using Abu Dhabi’s bus service because it provides real-time traffic information. Before and during the trip, you will be given all the necessary information. The interactive maps display all of the bus stops in real-time.
If you opt to take one of the buses, the app will also display all stops so you know where to exit and board the next bus that will take you to your destination. Although this app is mostly used to access the bus system, it also includes taxi services, on-street parking payments and the latest ferry timetable.
Travel and Convenience
Rehlat
Rehlat is a service that allows you to manage your complete trip from their app. It shows a list of hotels, rental cars, flights and whole vacation packages for you to organise your trip.
If you’re going on a budget, don’t be overwhelmed by the hotel options. Luxury and affordable accommodation are available in Rehlat, so you can find the best hotels to suit your specific budget.
Clear Trip
Clear Trip is a comparable, all-in-one travel booking service, but it caters to the more economical traveller. If you’ve made the decision to visit Abu Dhabi with the goal of keeping your expenses in check, you should download this app.
The service searches the internet for the greatest deals on domestic and regional flights, as well as hotels throughout the city. The app makes bookings quick and easy, aiming for a time of less than a minute from start to finish of the process.
Tripadvisor
On TripAdvisor you’ll find millions of user reviews and photographs. One of the best apps for tourists in Abu Dhabi, it makes it simple to find the lowest airfare, excellent hotels, great restaurants and interesting things to do.
BOTIM
BOTIM is the most popular app in Abu Dhabi for long-distance communication. Users from all over the world can utilise this VoIP service. It enables calling over mobile networks and Wi-Fi hotspots. The communication is also completely encrypted.
Here is a list of more internet calling apps that work in the UAE.
XE Currency
Whilst travelling, converting currency rates can be troublesome…which is exactly why XE Currency app is one of the best apps for tourists in Abu Dhabi.
XE Currency keeps track of your spending by providing you with the precise currency exchange rates in seconds, allowing you to know exactly how much you’re spending. This app is very useful while travelling in the UAE if you need to convert your spending from AED to USD or any other currency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download these apps?
All of these apps are available on Google Play Store (for Android) and App Store (for iOS).
What calling apps are restricted in the UAE?
Apps such as Whatsapp, FaceTime, Viber and Facebook Messenger are restricted from making calls in the UAE.
That concludes our guide on the best apps for tourists in Abu Dhabi. If you are planning a trip to the capital’s neighbouring emirate, here are some of the most useful apps to use in Dubai.
